Must Fly, But First.....

A well filled vacation, filled further by processing photographs and writing a diary now 36 years old, risks leaving insufficient time for everything I like to do. Until this moment, it was my blog, source variously of amusement and irritation to a largely hidden audience. I genuinely hope it contains some interesting narrative and observations. Many of my friends and colleagues are well travelled but we all see things differently. For 33 years I have been with Greg and it was our anniversary Wednesday. He moved me to tears by buying me a beautiful card with an unexpected message. Even after all this time it is difficult to understand why someone would love me when I do not particularly love myself. We all celebrate in different ways. We went to the Padres game at PETCO Park and, although we were nominally supporting the home team from the slightly uncomfortable position of the largely visitor-filled seats, we were most thrilled by seeing two Giants players, Buster Posey the catcher and remarkable pitcher Tim Lincecum. I have to congratulate not myself but my incredibly capable compact camera (TZ-6) on producing photographs I am very happy with.  Yesterday's 3-1 win over the Giants must have seemed a long way away when the visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and later went on to win 8-4. When we arrived for the game, some spotty rain fell as it had fallen in the morning as we did a few relatively local things before a  break in the hotel room. The most important of these was to visit the Cancer Survivors Park with, of course, the Salmones sculpture but a different setting and different Bartels benches and tiles.

When you hear 'he has a low spice tolerance' in an Indian restaurant you do wonder if you should suggest that 'he' steps across the road to Hooters where he might find something more to his liking. We were in Royal India on Tuesday, where the food was good but overpriced and from a menu much shorter than would be normal in England. There were only four starters. It was the end of a busy day, the first half of which had been spent at SeaWorld. I was  tempted to turn around when we discovered it was Spring Break and there were all sorts of hideous children there but we had already paid the extraordinary $12 parking charge. Crowds disperse fairly effectively in the large site especially when a show is on so the rest of the time was not bad. I remembered the delightful Penguin Encounter from our previous visit and it was a key reason for going back but, on this occasion, it was the beluga whales in Wild Arctic which moved me most. Their passivity and elegance in the water was magical. It seemed to me that the dolphins' training is designed to work mostly for those who have paid for encounters or gone into a show as it was difficult to photograph them casually. Animal Encounters however was a pleasant last surprise as we met a legless lizard and a sloth. Overall it was a great experience but, predictably, transport subjects were not far from my mind. Greg rested in the hotel while I went for an afternoon meander. I worked out the ticket machine for the trolley and bought a day pass, good value for even my relatively local perambulations. It took some while to understand that Event Specials were running in addition to regular Orange Line services. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Santa Fe Depot (Amtrak San Diego) and idly wondered what Santa Fe's station is called. There was no sign of any concern at my photographic endeavours but that changed later at Transit Center. The off-duty home of the trolleys (trams) is in an area made much busier Tuesday by the crowds arriving for the Padres' home opener against the Giants. Photography is actually difficult although there is plenty to see and I was using my camera openly but without trespassing beyond public areas. I was stopped by TSA officers for a bit of chat and, uncharacteristically but instinctively, I decided to remain relaxed and pleasant. They were very civil but very thorough and the psychology of the encounter was interesting. There were two key officers, one man, one woman, not exactly a 'good cop, bad cop' scenario but very defusing. However, there were three others nearby but within striking distance as it were - I think they could have coped with any eventuality. To give them their due they are clearly, and to my relief, well briefed on the latest determination that there are no general federal statutes prohibiting photography in public places. In spite of the existence of several excellent and prominent magazines in the US, interest in transport(ation) is not widely understood there. Still, my Flickr photostream today was well balanced with sculpture, architecture, animals, birds and trees. Leaving the area calmly, I walked back to the Marriott, savouring the Convention Center architecture and afternoon sun.

I don't think I have put on any weight but I have gained a few gigabytes and might take a while to catch up. As at the end of most holidays, I am happy and grateful but also ready to go back and be in the UK for a while; a short while as it happens as we shall soon be in Norway.